1801 Collins Ave., Miami, FL, 305-531-1271,
Rates: Standard rooms start at $159; rates can more than double during the high season (December to May). An ocean-front balcony room ranges from $349 to $474. But some of the best deals are through private rentals. More than half of the hotel is condos, and there are plenty of those available for around $100 a night on the Miami Craigslist. Parking: $29 per night.
Stay here if you’re: short of cash but want to be in the heart of the South Beach art-deco scene.
It’s close to: the Atlantic Ocean, which it backs right up to; all the trendy South Beach clubs and restaurants are within 2 miles. Convention center is two blocks away.
The rooms are: clean and modernized, but nothing special. Condos usually have kitchenettes and two double beds. Bathrooms are small.
They put all of the money into: The Shelborne’s website claims the 68-year-old hotel recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation, but it’s going to take a lot more cash to compare to nearby high-rise, art-deco masterpieces like the Delano and the Marseille. Still, the Shelborne has basic versions of everything these much pricier hotels have — pool, restaurant, club, fitness center, beach access — as well as cool art deco touches like a neon-striped cocktail lounge.
The bottom line: The Shelborne is like Gloria Swanson in the movie Sunset Boulevard — past her prime but with vestiges of glamour remaining. The hotel’s location can’t be beat, particularly if you’re paying only $100 a night for a condo. But like any transaction on Craigslist, be careful. Scams have been reported by people who paid for Shelborne condos in advance by check rather than credit card.
Vicky Uhland
